Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: Mad Scientist
We returned to the surface after failing to clear the dungeon.
These days, we've been facing more troublesome things, like being suddenly sniped. How have you been?
――The morning after the celebration party held at the hotel with Iroha and the others.
I thought I was woken up by the Princess, but it was her twin older sister, Kako.
She said she was going to install something here.
"Install? --Meaning, some kind of machine?"
"Yes, a hologram device."
"Oh, a hologram. That's what they had at the government office. It's certainly convenient to be able to communicate easily with government officials."
"There is that, but it's an order from my great-great-grandmother..."
"Great-great-grandma? The Yaegashi Group's? Meaning the Princess's great-great-grandmother?"
"I'm telling you, yes?!"
So, it means the Yaegashi Group is using it, so they are installing it here.
And still, my great-great-grandmother is amazing.
How old could she possibly be?
I think I met my great-grandmother when I was in kindergarten.
She lived in a wooden building that looked like it had been built since the early Showa era, deep in the mountains.
Until my grandmother's generation, there were so many children, so many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
There must have been about 100 great-grandchildren, so I was probably one of them.
At Kako's signal, the door opened, and workers wearing gray coveralls and hats clattered in.
Mysterious machines wrapped in transparent plastic bags were carried in one after another.
Since this is a Yaegashi Group hotel, orders from headquarters would likely bypass the front desk entirely.
It seems they will install it deep inside the room.
There are sofas and tables in the center of the room, so if there is any space, it must be there.
I think that device needs to be in the dark -- I remember there were blackout curtains on the remote control.
I don't think it will get pitch black, but will it be okay?
"Oh, by the way -- while you were unreachable, the money transfer has been completed."
"Yes, thank you very much~"
That's the payment for the Elixir.
I only gave her the company account, so that's where the money must be.
Well, I can't use it all because of taxes -- but a lump sum of money has come in.
The revenue from the videos is coming in steadily too.
Since there's no point in watching the work, I decided to prepare breakfast.
There are guests today after all.
Koeda also came to the living room after changing clothes.
"W-what is starting?"
"It seems they are installing a hologram device in the corner of the room."
"Eh?! Amazing! Isn't that a very expensive device?!"
"Is that so?"
Does everyone know?
I had heard a snippet of talk about such things existing, but in the middle of nowhere, it's out of reach.
Koeda is extremely interested, but I am making the food.
If it were just the usual three of us, bread would be fine, but since there are guests, maybe I'll make French toast.
I take the ingredients out of the Item Box and line them up on the sink.
Since there are many people, I have to make a lot.
Into the bowl, milk, eggs, sugar, and a little vanilla essence.
I just need to put it in a tray, soak the bread in it, and fry it, but frying takes effort.
"I'll help!"
Koeda came to me.
"Then, cut the crusts off the bread."
"Yes."
We two cut off the crusts and dipped them into the egg mixture.
"Koeda, can you use the Warm magic?"
"Just Koeda is fine -- I can use it."
That's good.
I take the bread soaked in the egg mixture out and heat it with magic.
Finally, I just need to sear it in a buttered frying pan.
This is simple.
"Can Koeda cook?"
"Well, a little bit..."
"Haha, that's good. My princesses are completely useless at it."
A fragrant aroma fills the room.
"..."
Kako came to me silently.
"What is it?"
"That's... does that include my portion?"
"Yes."
"So."
She showed a face that seemed relieved.
Hasn't she eaten breakfast?
She must have eaten.
Maybe the smell made her want to eat a little.
Well, French toast is available in room service, so I could have her eat that.
That would be the taste of a professional, after all.
I'm just an amateur old man.
"Haa, I'm hungry! Waa!"
Scratching her stomach vigorously, Iroha came out of the bedroom wearing nothing but shorts, her upper body bare, but seeing the workers, she hurriedly retreated.
Well, she would be surprised.
"What is this?!"
The Princess was awake too, wearing a loose shirt and thin pants that flared at the hem.
"Princess, good morning."
"Not good morning!"
I silently pointed at Kako.
"You! Who gave you permission to put something like that here?!"
"If you have a complaint, tell my great-great-grandmother."
Hearing Kako's words, the Princess's face twisted like she was chewing bitter beans.
"U... g... how long does that old woman have to live before she's satisfied?!"
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that remark."
The highest authority of the Yaegashi Group whom the Princess cannot oppose.
"So, that great-great-grandmother is the most important person?"
"Yes!"
The Princess answered with distaste.
"How old is this great-great-grandmother?"
"...I can't bear to ask about age, but I think around 120 years old."
It was Kako who answered.
"Of course, she is receiving life-prolonging treatment from the Yaegashi Group, right?"
"Yes -- but since she started the treatment after turning 80, it seems she couldn't avoid aging completely, and lately she has been bedridden often..."
It seems that if life-prolonging treatment is applied little by little from a young age, aging can be suppressed significantly.
――Though, since there is a physical limit, eventually death will come.
"Really, what whim brought this thing here?"
"Didn't your Darling like her?"
"Eh?! Me?! Why?"
Did I do something?
Ah, I sold the Elixir. Is that what it's about?
According to Kako, she was bedridden, so maybe my Elixir improved her condition?
"She is my Darling!"
"Will Sakura's logic work on my great-great-grandmother?"
"Gugu..."
The Princess's face is bright red.
So she has things she is bad at too -- that is my impression.
"Haa, I was startled! If there are people here, you should have told me!"
Iroha returned wearing leather pants and a leather jacket, her upper body bare.
Even she, with her bold nature, seems to mind the male gaze.
Maybe it's fine in the dungeon, but that's just how girls are.
"Here, the food is ready!"
"Huh? Am I sleepwalking? I see two Cherry Princesses!"
"Yes, yes!"
Koeda nods at Iroha's words.
"She is Ms. Kako. The Princess's twin older sister."
"Oh! The Cherry Princess is a twin?!"
"Actually, that's true."
"Oh~"
Iroha is staring intently at the two of them.
"Stop it!"
The Princess waves her hand with a gloomy expression.
Well, when you see twins, you can't help it.
Where exactly do they differ? -- I start to get interested.
Sometimes there are twins who look exactly the same, even down to their clothes and hairstyles, but these two are completely different.
You can tell at a glance.
Even if they match their clothes and hairstyles, their body types are different.
The Princess's body, forged through repeated battles in the dungeon, is like that of a first-class athlete.
In contrast, Kako is an ordinary woman.
They differ in appearance.
"Anyway, let's eat."
The menu is French toast, instant consomme soup, and potato salad made from my potatoes.
"Whoa~ Darling made it?" "Waa~"
Iroha and Koeda are happy with my cooking.
"Yeah, the soup is instant though."
"I wish I could have Darling make me food..."
"How does Goriki usually handle meals?"
"We have capable members cook for us, or we buy things from street stalls..."
"The street stalls in the Special District sell quite a variety of things."
There are usually stores selling prepared foods too.
When you are tired from fighting monsters in the dungeon, sometimes you can't prepare meals.
It seems there is quite a demand for it.
"Well, as long as you have money, you can live off street stall food."
"That's right! There are many delicious shops too."
"Everyone eats monster meat, but once you get used to it, it doesn't smell bad, and it might be better than normal meat."
"..."
Everyone is eating in a friendly atmosphere, but the Princess has a frown on her face.
She woke up to find someone barging into her room and installing some incomprehensible device, so it's no wonder.
"I don't understand machines, so let's leave that aside -- what surprised me was the Empress."
Iroha started talking about something.
"Her?"
"She's that perverted! Ahaha!"
"Yes, yes!"
Koeda, stuffing her mouth with French toast, also nods.
"W-wait, please stop!"
Hearing this, the workers who were working in the corner of the room stop their hands.
"What are you saying. Kaorulko has been a hardcore collector of smutty books with naked men entangled since elementary school